Teen shares Christmas dinner

Jodi Hearn, 13, of Concord has worked hard over the past few months to provide a community Christmas dinner for families in need this holiday season.She told her parents about her idea at the beginning of October and started collecting canned goods for the meal from other eighth graders and from the elementary school where her mom works.After passing out flyers and going door to door to invite local families, she and family members served the meal the day before Christmas Eve in the fellowship hall of Concord Baptist. School counselors also helped let families in need know about the dinner. ’I always wanted to do something like this and I always felt like God was telling me to but I felt like I was too young,’ she said. ‘I finally just told my mom, God wants me to do this. It all came together perfectly and miracles happened to make it possible.’The community Christmas dinner cost around $700 to serve around 100 people. The meal included ham, turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, squash, macaroni and cheese, green beans, cranberry sauce, several desserts and much more. In addition to planning and collecting food items and money for the dinner, Jodi pitched in to help cook ‘“ with a little help from her family and church family.’Our church has really gotten behind her,’ said her mother Tonya Hearn. ‘Her dad and I and her sister and friends helped. There were around 30 volunteers.’ In addition to a good meal and fellowship, Jodi wanted to share the meaning of the Christmas season ‘“ Jesus.’I’m hoping to do this again. I’d like for people to learn more about Jesus and know that he can help them even if they are going through hard times,’ she said. ‘Even for families that are doing well and not going through rough times, they may be missing that one good thing in their life.’Jodi is the daughter of Joey and Tonya Hearn and the sister of Hannah Hearn.